Healthy Connections Articles

As natural remedies go, hemp – and its more potent cousin, marijuana – have been used to treat a variety of illnesses for thousands of years. That’s thousands – in fact, hemp is one of the fastest- growing plants, and was grown commercially by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers. It also was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 10,000 years ago.
Industrial hemp, typically found in the northern hemisphere, is a strain of the Cannabis sativa plant … [Read More...]

There are so many positive aspects to aging – while it’s true some people become more crotchety and stubborn, most become wiser, more experienced, more forgiving and appreciative. But as our brains mature, so do our bodies, and certain health problems endemic to our chronological progression occur. That includes changes to our hearing, our mobility and our eyesight. As an example, more than 24.4 million Americans develop cataracts by age 40 and older. By age 75, approximately half of all … [Read More...]

There is nothing quite like fruits and vegetables plucked fresh from the bush or vine, or recently pulled out of the ground or off the stalk. Connecticut is abundant in fresh produce – especially in the summer – and seeking out this unprocessed bounty rich in nutrients and often lower in pesticides or genetic mutations is healthy nutritionally and emotionally.
Connecticut features vegetable and dairy farms and fruit orchards throughout the state. The growing season is long and the climate is … [Read More...]

“What an awful day.” Have you ever heard yourself – or someone close to you – express that sentiment? Some days are tougher than others . . . nothing seems to go right, time feels like your enemy, and whatever is plaguing you throughout the day follows you home like a stray cat. There you cope with bills, things that are broken (there’s always something broken), kid troubles, dog troubles, neighbor troubles – it’s a long list that seems overwhelming, especially when your work life is stressing … [Read More...]

Our brains and our bodies run out of steam after sitting or standing too long at our desks, work stations, machines, counters or work sites. Excessive sitting, in fact, wreaks havoc with our physiology, and is a known factor for increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, cancer, depression and obesity.
Our metabolism slows after 20 minutes of physical inactivity, lowering HDL, which is the “good” cholesterol. And without some physical stimulation over an extended … [Read More...]

We’re not even through the sneezy, sniffly, coughing and wheezing allergy months and now we’re faced with the itching, biting and scratching bug season. It isn’t fair – but that’s spring in Connecticut. Unfortunately, the number of people infected with diseases transmitted by ticks, mosquitos and fleas has more than tripled over the past few years, and the prognosis for 2019 doesn’t appear any better.
Of great concern is the possibility of contracting Lyme disease caused by the … [Read More...]

Embracing change isn’t always easy, especially those transformations that affect or challenge our health. But, like it or not, chemical, biological and physiological changes take place as we age, and understanding these processes helps us maintain our quality of life and even prolong our years on earth.
As we grow older, new bone is made and old bone is broken down. When we’re young, our body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone, increasing bone mass. Most people reach their … [Read More...]

It has probably come up at a holiday gathering or dinner party – people start comparing home or natural wellness remedies, and someone, invariably, mentions apple cider vinegar and “the mother.” Intrigued, you probably seek more details, and hear anecdotes about how it’s a life-changer, and that a tablespoon a day eases stomach distress, limits weight gain, controls blood pressure and sugar levels, and keeps the user regular.
While some people swear it’s a magic elixir, the medical jury is … [Read More...]

Thanks to the popularity of smart phones, Fitbits, Apple Watches, mobile wellness applications and other easy-to-use “smart” portable technology, employers now have more opportunities to work with their employees on health and wellness programs that can be tracked, measured and reported, synergistically, using today’s accessible technologies.
Wearables such as the Fitbit or the Apple Watch do more than simply measuring steps – they can help monitor stress levels and heart rates. They also aid … [Read More...]

Red itchy eyes, sinuses blocked, throat tender and nose running like a faucet? Yup, sounds like allergy season is back! Along with the much-heralded return of daffodils, crocuses, budding trees and the reappearance of robins and cardinals, springtime also afflicts millions of Americans with the sneezing, wheezing and sniffles that mark the perennial onslaught of typical allergy culprits, pollen and mold. And it starts weeks before the air seems filled with fluffy snow-like flakes that cover our … [Read More...]